Techniques are described that can solve the problem of being low power while running a device on battery and alternatively running on the output of a switching regulator. In a low power mode, a voltage regulator circuit can be powered down and a switch can connect an input voltage of the regulator, e.g., a battery, to the CPU. In addition, internal and/or external loads, such as voltage feedback resistors, can be disconnected in order to further reduce the power consumption. If the device is going into operation, the CPU can be disconnected from the input voltage of the regulator, e.g., the battery, and switched to the output of the regulator. This can ensure that the circuit consumes very little power consumption in standby mode.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1, wherein the second output node is the same as the first output node.
6. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 5, wherein, during the shutdown disabled mode, the regulator control circuit is configured to couple the first output voltage to both the first output node and the second output node.
9. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator circuit includes a DC-DC boost converter circuit.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second output node is the same as the first output node.
18. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 17, wherein during the shutdown disabled mode, the regulator control circuit is configured to couple the first output voltage to both the first output node and the second output node.
19. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 16, wherein the voltage regulator circuit includes a DC-DC boost converter circuit.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 1, 2020
May 23, 2023
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